ENGINEER WAS ILL Margate, Kent. At 2.32 a.m. on nth March, 1964, the coastguard told the honorary secretary that the motor vessel Swift of London had reported that the second engineer was seriously ill and needed a doctor. The life-boat North Foreland (Civil Service No. jj), was launched at 3.18 with a doctor on board.

There was a moderate easterly wind and a moderate sea, and it was one hour before low water. The life-boat reached the Swift, anchored in Margate roads, and the doctor was put aboard with two members of the life-boat crew who were qualified in first aid. The doctor diagnosed a brain haemorrhage and the man was transferred to the life-boat while strapped to the stretcher. With the doctor and two firstaiders back on board the life-boat proceeded to the jetty at Margate, when the man was landed and taken to hospital, where he later died. The freshening easterly wind prevented the life-boat from being rehoused until 1.45 p.m. on 13th March..